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    Lucky Us

    New Hill Country retreat hits bull's-eye with stylish cabins, yurts, and more

    Lauren Jones
    May 17, 2019 | 1:20 pm

    For those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country, this new Dripping Springs hideout hits the bull's-eye.

    Located about three hours from Houston, Lucky Arrow Retreat is a tranquil spot nestled on 15 acres, complete with an event center, beer garden, and on-site swimming pool and bathhouse. And with the hotel's prime location, there are also plenty of nearby activities for those traveling solo, in groups, or just in need of some family-friendly fun. (As a fun bonus, Lucky Arrow's nine-seat Land Cruiser Troopy is also available for excursions to wineries, breweries, Pedernales Falls, or to the Hill Country’s best barbecue joints.)

    For owner Mike Paclik, Lucky Arrow is a place where “guests can have a unique and memorable experience they can't get anywhere else in the Hill Country.” Plus, it fills the much-needed gap of “more lodging to accommodate the influx of people visiting for weddings in the area,” he adds.

    Lucky Arrow offers an array of room options including the Courtyard Cabins, which cluster around a communal courtyard with fire pits and hot tubs. Additional accommodations include five 372-square-foot Porch Houses and four stand-alone 395-square-foot Breezeway Cabins. There’s also the larger Ranch House on the property, which can sleep approximately 16 and is ideal for those traveling for weddings or bachelor and bachelorette parties.

    For those looking for something a bit more usual, Lucky Arrow also has 10 secluded 200-square-foot yurts. “Fun fact, we have the most yurts in the state of Texas,” Paclik says.

    To execute the project, Paclik, who has a background in large-scale residential new construction and renovation projects, turned to Jeff Krolick of Maker Architects and Austin interior designer Laura Britt. But, he also made his own mark.

    “I edited the site planning for the yurt and cabin locations, selected the interior decor, designed the cabin accent walls, found and purchased the Troopy, and designed the pool. I even carved out the wall decor you'll find in our Courtyard and Breezeway cabins with a chainsaw cut from a Spanish Oak tree on the property.”

    And when it came time to name the new retreat, the name Lucky Arrow seemed almost fateful.

    “It was a funny story actually,” Paclik says of the name. “I was interviewing Butler Bros as our marketing partner, and Adam Butler came out to see the property pre-development. Apparently, Adam is into finding buried treasure and asked if he could look around the property. Adam returned and managed to find a rough-looking arrowhead.”

    Opened officially on April 26, Lucky Arrow is already getting booked for the summer months.

    “Our guests are mostly active adventurers looking for an authentic, luxury experience,” Paclik says. “Our venue also allows our guests to come together to celebrate or for reflection, and [we have] weddings, church groups, men and women’s retreats, and corporate events.”

    In the future, Paclik and his team also plan to host community events, the first being a wedding open house on July 27. And, as more and more guests come to Lucky Arrow, he plans to make further changes to the property.

    “The artist in me is always thinking about ways to improve it that’s also practical,” he says. “Additionally, we have a top-secret plan to add a few extra lodging options that currently don’t exist in the area and will be great for families.”

    Many of the cabins are clustered around firepits.

    Lucky Arrow Retreat Dripping Springs
    Lucky Arrow Retreat/Facebook
    Many of the cabins are clustered around firepits.
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    news/travel

    Amusement Park Fun

    Six Flags Over Texas launches new roller coaster with a 285-foot drop

    Alex Bentley
    Jul 15, 2026 | 12:30 pm
    Riders on Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas
    Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas
    CultureMap took a ride on Tormenta before it opens to the public.

    Six Flags Over Texas will officially open its anticipated new roller coaster, Tormenta Rampaging Run, on Thursday, July 9, and CultureMap and other media and VIPs were given early access to experience the ride's intense thrills before its public debut.

    The new coaster boasts several records — as the tallest, fastest, longest, and first-ever giga (300+-foot-tall) dive coaster in the world, topping out at 309 feet just before it sends riders plunging into a beyond-vertical, 95-degree, 285-foot drop. We take you along for the ride in the following video:

    Each car of the coaster features three rows of seats with eight seats per row, servicing 24 riders at a time. During the preview event, two cars were sent out in staggered sessions, but a third car sat close by to be used if needed.

    The ride's rodeo theme is strong, with multiple posters advertising fictional rodeos and a metallic gate swinging open at the start to let the bull car pass through.

    To paraphrase Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, the first part is a doozy, as riders are click-clacked up a steep stretch forcing them to look straight up into the sky.

    The ever-so-brief pause at top affords a view of the surrounding city, the rest of Six Flags, and, in the distance, the downtown Dallas skyline. The angle feels like you're above those towering skyscrapers even though logic tells you that you aren't.

    The initial plunge tests the mettle of even hardcore roller coaster fans, sending riders through the extreme drop before hurtling them into two large loops and a corkscrew before coming to another brief stop.

    The 95-degree, 285-foot drop of Tormenta Rampaging Run. The 95-degree, 285-foot drop of Tormenta Rampaging Run. Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas

    That stop gives riders only a small reprieve before they're shot through two smaller loops and a sharp right curve before — mercifully — coming to a jolting halt as the coaster car is shuttled back into the loading station.

    From start to finish, the ride lasts around 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the first 75 seconds is spent just getting to the start of the main portion of the coaster.

    All told, the drops, loops, and other elements lasts exactly one minute, which is not that long, but the time-to-thrill ratio is still high.

    Misting fans and pergolas at Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas. Misting fans and pergolas will help keep riders cool while waiting in line for Tormenta.Photo by Alex Bentley

    Even during the brutal heat of the Texas summer, visitors should expect lines to be long for the hot new ride. The corrals close to the ride have scattered pergolas and umbrellas for shade, as well as oscillating fans with misters. Once you reach the completely covered top platform, there are a number of ceiling fans, although they do little to stave off the high humidity.

    Opinions will differ as to whether a long wait time for a short ride is worth it, but for those who get their kicks trying out the latest and greatest roller coasters, Tormenta Rampaging Run is a great new addition to the 65-year-old amusement park.

    The grand opening for Tormenta is Thursday, July 9 at Six Flags Over Texas. The park is open daily through August 16.

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